SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT UNDERWAY ON I-70 THROUGH THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT

DENVER-- A two-mile safety improvement project is now underway through the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) on I-70 between Pena Boulevard and Tower Road. The $334,000 project, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will install cable guardrail in the median of I-70 to help prevent crossover accidents.

"I am proud to announce this key project is the sixth infrastructure project to turn dirt in the 7th Congressional District as part of the Recovery Act in less than five months. I commend CDOT for working so hard to implement and move forward with these projects which invest in our state while creating and saving jobs," stated U.S. Representative Ed Perlmutter (CO -07).

The cable rail is not the typical steel guardrail that is placed on many highways, but is designed with an elastic property that slows the vehicle down and contains it within the median, preventing the vehicle from crossing over or coming back into traffic. This type of guardrail has been installed in many locations across the state including C-470, I-76 and US 285 in the Denver metro area.

CDOT would like to remind motorists to obey all traffic signs and flaggers and to Slow for the Cone Zone.

Ideal Fencing Corporation of Erie, CO is the contractor for this project, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of August 2009.

In all, Colorado will receive more than $400 million from ARRA for transportation projects and $103 million for transit projects. For a list of CDOT's Recovery Act projects, visit www.dot.state.co.us/arra.